The BareStory
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has halted all detainee movement at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas after two individuals tested positive for measles. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the suspension on Sunday, February 1, 2026, confirming that the infections were detected at the south Texas facility over the weekend.
DHS official Tricia McLaughlin stated that the ICE Health Services Corps moved immediately to quarantine the infected detainees and isolate suspected contacts to contain the spread. McLaughlin noted that medical staff are monitoring the situation and providing necessary care to those in custody. The Dilley facility, located near San Antonio, primarily detains parents and children for alleged immigration violations.
The outbreak coincides with the recent release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, who were discharged from the center over the weekend. Representative Joaquin Castro, who accompanied the father and son upon their release, had previously pledged to conduct inspections of the facility. A spokesperson for Castro’s office stated that the notification regarding the measles cases arrived shortly after the congressman vowed to visit. Neha Desai, a lawyer with the National Center of Youth Law, expressed concern for the detainees' health and voiced hope that the outbreak would not be used to block external inspections.
This incident follows a significant resurgence of measles in the United States. According to government data, the country recorded more than 2,200 cases in 2025, the highest annual figure in decades. State health officials reported that a regional outbreak in West Texas last year accounted for over 700 of those cases, resulting in nearly 100 hospitalizations and two deaths.
How it may affect me
As a U.S. reader:
Residents in Texas and the broader region face continued public health concerns regarding measles following a resurgence that caused nearly 100 hospitalizations in West Texas last year, though current facility lockdowns aim to prevent further community spread.
You may observe a temporary delay in independent oversight of federal facilities, as the implementation of medical quarantine protocols could postpone pledged inspections by congressional representatives and legal advocates regarding detention conditions.
The suspension of detainee movement at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center indicates a short-term disruption in the processing and transfer of families within the immigration system in the South Texas sector.
